Tuesday, June 30, 2020

USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “SOUTHEAST” ALABAMA


ALABAMA: HEART OF DIXIE

BY CLAY LARROY

Do you feel like it is time for a short vacation? Once you decide to travel, how good you plan the trip will help you feel comfortable and be comfortable at your destination. Not only will you feel less anxiety before the trip, but you can rest assured that once you arrive where you're going you will have a good understanding of what's going on there.  When you need to plan a vacation contact me!


Known affectionately as the ‘Heart of Dixie', Alabama thrills visitors with its fine antebellum architecture, white powdery beaches, hearty cuisine and rich sporting heritage.
History nuts also have plenty to get their teeth into, from caves used by prehistoric Native Americans to the spot where Jefferson Davis became president of the Confederate States of America. In the 1950s and 1960s, Alabama was at the heart of the American Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr first preached at the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery, and you can find sites commemorating the struggle across the state.
Alabama's landscapes are many and varied, ranging from mountains and forests to lakes and beaches. Take a road trip through sprawling farmland and plantation homes, hike the Appalachians or paddle some of the 2,600km (1,600 miles) of waterways, which meander through the state. Alternatively, head to the coast where watersports, wildlife and white sands await.
Foodies can dig into good ole Southern fare, chomping slow-cooked hunks of barbecued meat, scooping up fresh-from-the-Gulf crab, or splurging on unpretentious gourmet dining in the bright lights of Birmingham.
Alabama's largest city is also home to the country's oldest baseball stadium, built in 1910. Sport is huge in Alabama. Track and field star Jesse Owens was born here and the NASCA races at Talladega Superspeedway are world famous. The state also hosts the legendary Senior Bowl, an annual North vs South battle featuring the country's top college football players.
And if you like a good knees-up, Mobile has been celebrating Mardi Gras since 1703, longer than any other US city (yes, we're talking about you New Orleans).

Where to stay in Alabama

Hotels

From 4-star properties to inns and beachfront resorts, hotels in Alabama cover a broad range of styles and budgets. The biggest choice of hotels in Alabama can be found in the larger cities like Mobile and Montgomery.

Camping Caravanning

Alabama is sprinkled with a number of well managed campsites, from Bear Creek Lakes in the north of the state to the Gulf Coast region in the south. Set amid beautiful scenery, Alabama's campsites offer natural playgrounds for outdoor enthusiasts.

Other

Alabama's world-class hunting lodges offer a unique experience. Bent Creek Lodge in Jachin caters to hunters of deer, turkey, boar and quail and offers plantation-style meals and walk-in coolers. Alternatively, Marion's Donovan Lakes Fishing Club is set amid nine lakes and offers 17 fishing piers and the chance of hooking tiger bass, shell crackers, and catfish.


Things to see and do in Alabama

Adrenalin junkies

Enjoy heart-pounding action at Talladega Superspeedway (www.talladegasuperspeedway.com), site of Nascar records for speed and competition. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum is adjacent to the track.

Beach life

Walk the white, sugar-sand beaches of Gulf Shores (www.gulfshores.com) or indulge in some serious beach resort rest and recuperation.

Delve back in time

Follow the history trail of the Civil Rights Movement that started in Alabama with Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Visit actual sites in Birmingham, Montgomery, Selma and Tuskegee.

Military history

Head south to Mobile, a major seaport, and touch living military history at USS Alabama Battleship Park (www.ussalabama.com). It includes the battleship, submarines, and aircraft from every war since WWII, even the Lockheed A-12 Blackbird.

Music and festivals

Visit Montgomery, Alabama's state capital and the first White House of the confederacy. The Hank Williams Memorial in Oakwood Cemetery Annex is a mecca for country music fans. Attend the sixth-largest Shakespeare Festival in the world held year-round at the Carolyn Blount Theatre (www.asf.net), and celebrate Mardi Gras in Mobile, birthplace of the Gulf Coast Mardi Gras in 1703 (www.mobilemardigras.com).

Play golf

Play golf at the Robert Trent Golf Trail in Mobile (www.rtjgolf.com), while the kids are entertained at the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center (www.exploreum.com).

Space exploration

Launch into a space exploration experience at Huntsville's US Space and Rocket Center. Sign kids on for Space Camp (www.spacecamp.com), visit the IMAX theatre, or tour the museum showcasing rockets and space hardware from the US space programs.

Theme parks and museums

Explore Birmingham, Alabama's largest city, nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Attractions include the Alabama Adventure theme park (www.alabamaadventure.com); McWane Science Center and IMAX theatre: (www.mcwane.org); the Birmingham Museum of Art (www.artsbma.org); and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

 

REFERENCE SITES:



I love what Alabama Shakes is doing - it's kind of like what grunge did to rock 'n' roll, they're doing to R&B.
John Oates

  

Live life and travel often, the more you travel, the more memories you create!
 

No comments:

Post a Comment